CHAPTER 63: CHAPTER 61 DEPARTURE

Xie Liangchen finished cooking and explained the matter of the Tian Family Trading Team to Song Xian. She felt she should leave, as she was mentally halfway out of the yard already. Unexpectedly, Song Xian suddenly asked her to return to the kitchen.

After a brief pause, Xie Liangchen said, "General, although the medicinal dishes I prepare are mild, they are not suitable for everyone. Especially those who are weak and sick; it’s important to carefully check the pulse before deciding. Even for regular people, consumption should be moderate."

Her point was that if Old Mrs. Song were to eat it, caution was necessary. If it wasn’t suitable, although no serious issue would arise, discomfort was inevitable.

Even though Song Xian was young and strong, eating too much might not be beneficial either.

As soon as Xie Liangchen finished speaking, Song Xian’s voice rang out: "My grandmother has deficiency of qi and yin, lung heat with a dry cough, and blood deficiency. We also make this kind of medicinal food at home."

The implication being that after careful consideration, Song Xian was not rash.

Since that was the case, Xie Liangchen had nothing more to say, but she still didn’t move her feet: "You might have to wait a little longer; we’re out of lamb."

She didn’t know another pot needed to be cooked; the lamb bought was only enough for one meal.

Song Xian looked at Chang An, who suddenly began to sweat on his forehead. He thought that when Miss Xie came again, she’d make chicken soup, so he raised chickens in the yard, never expecting lamb to be used this time.

Chang An quickly said, "I’ll send someone to buy some." Unfortunately, the yard was too small, or he’d want to raise all the livestock visible outside to be prepared for emergencies.

Xie Liangchen looked at Song Xian: "I also have some astragalus. Using angelica, glehnia root, and astragalus to stew chicken is fine, but General Song and Lord Cheng have already eaten a lot of medicinal dishes today. If I make it again, they should use a little less."

Song Xian did not refuse: "Go ahead and make it!"

Xie Liangchen quickly left the room. How could she handle someone who looks ten steps ahead with every step taken without some preparation? Chicken cooks faster than lamb, so her stay could be shorter.

There were still many things waiting for her in the village; leaving a moment earlier would be good.

After Xie Liangchen left, Cheng Yanzhao lifted his head from the big bowl and looked suspiciously at Song Xian: "Do you really still want to eat?"

Song Xian ignored Cheng Yanzhao and resumed his seat, taking up the documents: "Get stuffed and come over to discuss business."

...

In the kitchen, Xie Liangchen watched the bubbling chicken soup in the pot.

After stewing lamb, now stew chicken. If her grandmother knew, she didn’t know how much she would feel distressed.

While watching the hearth, Xie Liangchen fiddled with the abacus in her hands. Once the toads in the yard dried out, the Tian Family Trading Team should also leave Zhenzhou, so before then, they needed to collect as much herbal medicine as possible.

Even after the Tian Family Trading Team left, collecting herbs could not be interrupted, especially in the first few days when the medicine vendors received the news.

Xie Liangchen used a spoon to serve the chicken soup to inspect. The soup was milky white, the chicken tender, and the medicinal strength was all brewed into the soup.

Finally, it was ready.

Xie Liangchen was about to notify Chang An, just in time to see the study door open, and Song Xian coming out.

Song Xian instructed, "Prepare the horses; we need to make a trip to Qi State and return tomorrow morning."

Cheng Yanzhao had a stern expression, not understanding where Song Xian got so much energy from, considering this trip might consume more than what he ate.

Xie Liangchen strapped on her bamboo basket, knowing Song Xian was leaving. She wouldn’t have stayed to prepare meals if she had known.

Thinking along these lines, Xie Liangchen approached and greeted Song Xian.

Song Xian turned his head to glance at the kitchen. His gaze lingered slightly on her slender figure before he stepped outside.

A moment later, Chang An returned: "Miss Xie, we are all leaving, and there’s no time to handle the things in the kitchen. If you don’t mind, please eat them!"

Xie Liangchen thought of the pot of steaming chicken.

Chang An continued: "If you can’t finish it, let Chang Yue help you take it back to the Chen Family Village."

After Chang An spoke, Xie Liangchen looked in Song Xian’s departing direction, wondering if it was his instruction. Could he have planned for her to take it away before she cooked it?

Her heart was attached to Chen Family Village but she wouldn’t reveal it.

Such a creditor seemed not as heartless as she thought.

...

The Song Family.

Old Mrs. Song heard that her grandson had someone send her meals. Though she wasn’t keen to eat, she had someone serve her a small bowl on behalf of her grandson.

The housekeeper smiled and said: "The master said it was delicious."

Old Mrs. Song showed a flash of surprise: "Xian would praise food?" In recent years, he never praised anything, taking time to sit properly for a meal was rare.

Old Mrs. Song thought of her grandson, and this joy gave her some appetite: "Quickly let me taste it."

The housekeeper complied and fetched a bowl.

A piece of stewed, tender lamb entered her mouth without the slightest gamy taste, with the meat slightly sweet and a hint of medicinal fragrance in the aftertaste. Unlike usual medicinal dishes that taste bitter.

Old Mrs. Song nodded repeatedly: "No wonder my grandson said it was good."

Seeing this, the housekeeper was pleased as well: "Since it suits your taste, please have some more, madam."

Old Mrs. Song was persuaded to eat half a bowl, which although was still less than what normal people might eat, was surprising enough.

When Madam Rong came to pay respects, she noticed Old Mrs. Song was in a much better mood.

Madam Rong’s expression remained calm, but her heart felt sliced open, her two children caught in such a plight, yet not a hint of sympathy from the grandmother, who was quite pleased.

Old Mrs. Song indeed only has Song Xian in her eyes.

Madam Rong dared not show any unusual expression, thinking that with Old Mrs. Song’s lingering chronic illness, she may not endure for years. She couldn’t always shield Song Xian, and when the Marquis wanted to expel the legitimate eldest son from the family, there would be no one to prevent it.

...

In a few days, several large warehouses were built in Chen Family Village.

All the herbs in the yard were piled into the warehouses.

Xie Liangchen looked at the warehouses before her, the Tian Family Trading Team was also nearly prepared. On the government office’s side, a clerk was found, and Chen Yongsheng and Tian Chengyou went to prepare the documents yesterday.

Three copies of documents, one for Chen Family Village, one for Tian Family, and one for the government office to keep.

Tian Chengyou came a few times under the guise of looking at toad oil, and finally, everything was ready. Before dawn, the Tian Family Trading Team loaded the signed cargo onto the wagon.

This time, Tian Chengyou claimed to the public that these were old goods that the Tian Family had accumulated for years. Since the trading team had been in business for years, outsiders hearing this didn’t suspect anything.

In fact, the mule carts were loaded entirely with medicinal herbs, some of which people from Chen Family Village secretly sent to the Tian Family daily under the guise of selling herbs. Other portions were transported together when the Tian Family purchased the toad oil.

As the trading team left Zhenzhou City, Tian Chengyou showed no sign on the surface, but his palms were sweating.

Only when the city patrol soldiers let them pass did Tian Chengyou exhale in relief; by this point, he should understand, General Song Xian intentionally let him leave.

Tian Chengyou couldn’t deduce General Song Xian’s intention for this move, perhaps he doesn’t want those merchants to exploit the people?

Suddenly being endorsed in this manner felt like a ray of light from the heavens falling onto his shoulders, clearing the surrounding haze and illuminating the path ahead more brightly.

Tian Chengyou couldn’t help but smile, enjoying the best of timing, location, and human harmony, now he needs to prove himself.

The fifth day after the Tian Family Trading Team departed.

Madam Su sat in the main hall, listening to the steward reporting.

"The Chen Family Village is still collecting herbs," the steward said, "I calculated the silver coin earned from selling herbs by the Chen Family Village; by rights, they should have run out by now."